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About this time every year, I go out and find some of the coolest new technology products for computer lovers everywhere. Most of this season's offerings have something in common. The Universal Serial Bus (USB) has become a platform breaker in that manufacturers need only make one device. If it connects via the USB standard, then all that needs to be done is to develop Windows and Macintosh software to make it function on both platforms. There are some exception to this condition but it applies to most USB devices.

The Graphire from Wacom ($99.95), is a cordless mouse and pen set. Consisting of a small table with an active 4 by 5 inch active area, the Graphire attaches to a PC or Mac via a USB cable. After setup, you can use the included cordless mouse and cordless pen to perform a myriad of functions. The mouse has about three times the resolution of a conventional mouse, has a scrolling wheel and has no mechanical ball to get dirty and interfere with smooth tracking. Using a technology known as electromagnetic resonance, the mouse is moved on the Graphire's tablet surface which senses the mouse movement and position. The cordless pen is perfect for freehand drawing, signatures and anything else you may be inclined to create with a pen. As with the mouse, you use the pen on the Graphire's tablet surface. The pen is pressure sensitive to capture subtle nuances of a user's hand inflections so as you bear down for example, the strokes become thicker.

Is your computer ready for prime time? If it has LifeView's USB LifeTV ($139.95), it just might be. The small device plugs into your Mac or PC's USB port and you have instant access to its 125 channel cable-ready and broadcast tuner. Its built-in speaker lets you hear as well as see television programming on your computer's screen. In addition, LifeTV can capture still images and full motion video at up to 30 frames per second. An included snapshot button allows for simple point-and-shoot picture taking or click the mouse on LifeTV's software application. Displays can be done within a variable size window or watch everything on full screen. LifeTV can also accept video signals from other composite, S-Video and PAL sources such as a VCR, camcorder or video camera.

Dymo has just released its LabelWriter Turbo ($259.95). USB versions are available for PC and Mac. The Turbo version is Dymo's fastest label printer to date and the company claims it's the fastest label printer in its class. It can print a 4-line label in two seconds. The Turbo is also capable of printing graphic images which can be imported into its included label printing application. The tiny printer can print on a wide variety of labels which are available directly from Dymo.

Finally, the Attaché ($149) from Antec, is not a USB device but still qualifies as a cool technology item. The Attaché is a 12 ounce portable color scanner that uses no batteries and has no AC adaptor. It gets needed power from its PCMCIA interface card. This makes it ideal for those on the go who need a quality scanner to capture images, send faxes, make copies and email documents. The Attaché can scan items as small as a business card up to a full 8 1/2 x 14 inch legal size document and do so in full color. The Attaché's power consumption is minimal making the strain on your portable's battery a minimal one.

Wacom Technologies Corp. (800) 922-6613 or (360) 896-9833 www.wacom.com

LifeView, Inc. (510) 661-2968 www.lifeview.com

Dymo-CoStar Corp. (203) 661-9700 www.dymo.com/labelwriter

Antec, Inc. (510) 770-1200 www.antec-inc.com